Up in Toronto, they continue to make big moves over the Major League Soccer offseason, as another big name could be on the way if you believe reports out of Brazil.

On Friday various reports from suggest Ryan Nelsen’s Toronto FC have struck a deal with his former club Queens Park Rangers for Nelsen’s ex-teammate Julio Cesar, Brazil’s starting goalkeeper.

TFC’s President and CEO Tim Lieweke is really backing Nelsen this offseason, that’s for sure.

Cesar, 34, has been out of favor for QPR this season as they battle it out at the top of the Championship to get back into the Premier League at the first time of asking. Last season he dazzled in the PL, but has since lost his spot to Robert Green after QPR tried to ship Cesar out of the club over the past two transfer windows to get his huge wages off their payroll. It’s not that he is a bad player, far from it, but manager Harry Redknapp needs him out of the club to ease the already bulging wage bill.

However now an option that would suit everyone may have been found, as Cesar could join TFC on loan for the 2014 MLS season and play a few months before he jets off to his homeland to be the host nations starting GK. Cesar needs regular soccer, Toronto could do with a top class ‘keeper to compliment the huge signings of Michael Bradley and Jermain Defoe earlier this offseason, and QPR would love to get a good chunk of Cesar’s salary off the already hefty wage bill at Loftus Road.

Everyone’s a winner.

The long-time Inter Milan ‘keeper, who has 77 caps for Brazil and excelled in the Confederations Cup victory last summer, would be a real feather in the cap for Nelsen and no disrespect to Joe Bendik, Cesar would be a huge upgrade between the sticks. But can Toronto really pull off yet another stunning signing? If Cesar does join, he would be one of, if not the best, goalkeepers in MLS. No doubt.

Lets see how this one pans out, but Nelsen and Leiweke aren’t messing around up in Toronto, are they?

I think that as MLS continues to improve, we will start seeing a lot more loans on WC years. The Spring-to-fall schedule is perfect for having players in mid-season form for the WC. That’s probably one reason Cesar wants to do this.

I think you hit on something that isn’t talked about much, but is a distinct advantage. Stateside players are rounding into form as the Cup rolls around while all the top leagues have just finished spending 9 bruising months of play.

Toronto seems to really be going all-in, good for them. On another note, there was an article on here yesterday about Michael Bradley potentially being the USA Captain for the WC. Playing alongside Julio and Defoe for a few months before the WC break will be great for him to get some additional leadership perspective from some proven veterans. Granted it’s on a lower level, but this move could end up helping our Natl team just a bit.

Julio makes DP money so if this was to happen it would mean loan players don’t cout as DPs. This means that NYCFC can the three DP slots filled up plus another four players on loan from City. This does not sound like a good precedent to be setting

He made roughly $4.1M last season. All the teams that looked at bringing him in over the summer balk since he would not come off his curent salary, so it’s safe to assume he is still making in that range this season. Assuming he gets paid equally per each week of the Championship and QPR has played 28 games that means he is still owed roughly 40% or about $1.6M for the rest of this contract year. To me a good chunk of $1.6M would still exceed the minimum DP salary.

That is just some basic critical thinking though.

danielofthedale - Feb 7, 2014 at 3:00 PM

Based on his salary I would think he has about $1.6M left for just rest of this season, that does not include wages that would carry over past June if he came back after the World Cup. As you said QPR wants to get a good chunk of his salary off their books. Now to me a good chunk would be more than the minimum DP salary, I mean $350K is not a good chunk of $1.6M.

Agreed. MLS will need to develop special rules to govern situations like NYFC’s, though, once they enter the league. In the same way PSG and Man City should not be able to use “sponsorships” that are basically funds the owner give himself to meet Financial Fair Play regulations, Man City players who are loaned to NYFC should have their entire salary counted against the salary cap, since the same person is paying either way.

Also, in answer to the OP-Mo Edu. Loan guy, DP. Multiple other examples.

Sgc - Feb 8, 2014 at 11:41 AM

2 points:
1) Players aren’t paid by the year, they’re paid by the week on a 52-week schedule, and the most QPR could possibly expect was his full salary paid for the weeks he’s out on loan.

2) It is not rare for teams to get significantly less than full salary for a loan. When Sochaux loaned Charlie Davies out to DC United for a whole year, United only had to pay about a quarter of his $800k salary.

Remember, that’s still something like money for nothing to QPR, as they’re getting part of a player’s wages paid, some of it for weeks in which the Premier League is in off-season. It would not shock me at all if Cesar were not at DP salary for a 3 or 4 month loan; it would shock me if he were.